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mariahaskins's review against another edition
4.0
A harrowing and mind-bending return to the world of powerful and dangerous jewels (that often have a mind of their own). I absolutely loved Jorit and Ania.
marziesreads's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 Stars bumped because I just love the underlying message here.
Fran Wilde's second book in the Gemworld series takes place long after the events of her Hugo Award-nominated novelette, The Jewel and Her Lapidary. Set in the Far Reaches, we see a treacherous time where the nature of knowledge itself is explored. Ania, a librarian, working in a university library, is struggling against losing odds to safeguard her books from being destroyed and churned into pulp by a group called the Pressman who make them into the self-updating Universal Compendiums of Knowledge. Professors and students are bullied into joining the Pressman or have their minds altered if they resist. Jorit, a thief who encounters Ania in the library while trying to escape the Pressmen and steal a few books herself, flees with Ania into another era via a clock running with the titular fire opal mechanism, which permits time travel. Of course, traveling in time allows them to set things right. And if Ania and Jorit have a jewel what if there are other jewels out there. What if that's how the Pressman are updating their Compendium, they wonder?
The Fire Opal Mechanism offers some interesting thoughts on freedom of information, and about what is lost when we have knowledge without context. The Pressmen are clearly analogous to the firemen of [b:Fahrenheit 451|13079982|Fahrenheit 451|Ray Bradbury|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1383718290s/13079982.jpg|1272463], collecting books to destroy and redistributing "knowledge" in a continuously updating format that is not unlike the "parlor walls" in Bradbury's novel. The obvious risks of curated knowledge, of knowledge as information without context, and of limiting information that, au courant, is unpopular or out of favor, strikes the heart of an era of fake news, media distortion of information, and governments that limit scientific discussion or offer textbooks that rewrite history changing the reasons that led to civil war.
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Fran Wilde's second book in the Gemworld series takes place long after the events of her Hugo Award-nominated novelette, The Jewel and Her Lapidary. Set in the Far Reaches, we see a treacherous time where the nature of knowledge itself is explored. Ania, a librarian, working in a university library, is struggling against losing odds to safeguard her books from being destroyed and churned into pulp by a group called the Pressman who make them into the self-updating Universal Compendiums of Knowledge. Professors and students are bullied into joining the Pressman or have their minds altered if they resist. Jorit, a thief who encounters Ania in the library while trying to escape the Pressmen and steal a few books herself, flees with Ania into another era via a clock running with the titular fire opal mechanism, which permits time travel. Of course, traveling in time allows them to set things right. And if Ania and Jorit have a jewel what if there are other jewels out there. What if that's how the Pressman are updating their Compendium, they wonder?
The Fire Opal Mechanism offers some interesting thoughts on freedom of information, and about what is lost when we have knowledge without context. The Pressmen are clearly analogous to the firemen of [b:Fahrenheit 451|13079982|Fahrenheit 451|Ray Bradbury|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1383718290s/13079982.jpg|1272463], collecting books to destroy and redistributing "knowledge" in a continuously updating format that is not unlike the "parlor walls" in Bradbury's novel. The obvious risks of curated knowledge, of knowledge as information without context, and of limiting information that, au courant, is unpopular or out of favor, strikes the heart of an era of fake news, media distortion of information, and governments that limit scientific discussion or offer textbooks that rewrite history changing the reasons that led to civil war.
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
triscuit807's review against another edition
4.0
3.5-4 stars. This entry in Wilde's Gemworld universe in many ways is a fantasy version of Fahrenheit 451. The Pressmen are pro-Knowledge - Knowledge for all - but are anti-education. They view education as divisional, that only some can be educated, so their mission is to get rid of universities, libraries, and books (all writing) except for the Compendium of Knowledge (which contains everything deemed worthy/necessary). Ania is the sole remaining librarian at the last university. When we meet her, she's desperately trying to hide books and eventually retreats to a large clock where she is found by a thief, Jorit, after the Pressmen have begun the library's destruction. They accidentally escape through time via an opal mechanism that is part of the clock. It turns out the opal is one of only a few remaining Gems and has a mission of its own. I read this for my 2020 Reading Challenge and the Hugo nominations (Novella).
amym84's review against another edition
4.0
3.5
Originall posted at Vampire Book Club
When the Pressmen come to the Far Reaches looking to confiscate all the books so they can form their Universal Compendiums of Knowledge, librarian Ania seems to be the only holdout, wanting to protect the knowledge her books hold rather than give it up to some faceless group to decide what garners passing along to the masses.
Meanwhile Jorit, branded a thief, is looking for a way out of the Far Reaches, and teaming up with Ania seems to be the best option she has. While barricaded in the library, hiding from the Pressmen, Jorit and Ania discover a clock powered by a powerful jewel. Just when their time is up and their discovery by the Pressmen is near, they’re transported to the past. While there, they discover what has lead the Far Reaches to its current present, and hopefully helps them find a way to preserve the future.
The Fire Opal Mechanism very much reminded me of Rachel Caine’s The Great Library series with the idea of this great power, this kind of omniscient presence making decision for the populace as a whole.
Knowledge for all—and access for all to that knowledge—is an ideal concept, but it’s negated when that knowledge is controlled and parceled out by a single entity. When someone determines what it is, exactly, that people are allowed to read. Almost like pushing their own agenda in lieu of letting people decide for themselves.
It’s an interesting concept and, for the most part, Fran Wilde does a great job of exploring it within the confines of a rather short story. I just felt like there was a little bit lacking in regards to seeing how the past has influenced where the story begins in the present.
I haven’t read the first book in the series, and while this story certainly stands well on its own—no issues following along whatsoever—I feel like the connection between the books plays a much more intrinsic part of opening up the story and really appreciating what occurs here.
I’m very interested in giving the first book a read and putting the references together to form the whole picture. As it stands, I give Fran Wilde much credit for giving us such a contemplative story that asks readers to think about what they’re reading and maybe appreciating where it comes from just a little bit more.
Originall posted at Vampire Book Club
When the Pressmen come to the Far Reaches looking to confiscate all the books so they can form their Universal Compendiums of Knowledge, librarian Ania seems to be the only holdout, wanting to protect the knowledge her books hold rather than give it up to some faceless group to decide what garners passing along to the masses.
Meanwhile Jorit, branded a thief, is looking for a way out of the Far Reaches, and teaming up with Ania seems to be the best option she has. While barricaded in the library, hiding from the Pressmen, Jorit and Ania discover a clock powered by a powerful jewel. Just when their time is up and their discovery by the Pressmen is near, they’re transported to the past. While there, they discover what has lead the Far Reaches to its current present, and hopefully helps them find a way to preserve the future.
The Fire Opal Mechanism very much reminded me of Rachel Caine’s The Great Library series with the idea of this great power, this kind of omniscient presence making decision for the populace as a whole.
Knowledge for all—and access for all to that knowledge—is an ideal concept, but it’s negated when that knowledge is controlled and parceled out by a single entity. When someone determines what it is, exactly, that people are allowed to read. Almost like pushing their own agenda in lieu of letting people decide for themselves.
It’s an interesting concept and, for the most part, Fran Wilde does a great job of exploring it within the confines of a rather short story. I just felt like there was a little bit lacking in regards to seeing how the past has influenced where the story begins in the present.
I haven’t read the first book in the series, and while this story certainly stands well on its own—no issues following along whatsoever—I feel like the connection between the books plays a much more intrinsic part of opening up the story and really appreciating what occurs here.
I’m very interested in giving the first book a read and putting the references together to form the whole picture. As it stands, I give Fran Wilde much credit for giving us such a contemplative story that asks readers to think about what they’re reading and maybe appreciating where it comes from just a little bit more.
katieconrad's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
jameseckman's review
3.0
A thief and a librarian save the world from an evil, vampiric gem that sucks the ink out of books and then uses the naked paper to print its own propaganda. What an evil monster! And such a short read, well much longer than the first Gemworld. An easy, fast read.
marziesreads's review
5.0
4.5 Stars bumped because I just love the underlying message here.
Fran Wilde's second book in the Gemworld series takes place long after the events of her Hugo Award-nominated novelette, The Jewel and Her Lapidary. Set in the Far Reaches, we see a treacherous time where the nature of knowledge itself is explored. Ania, a librarian, working in a university library, is struggling against losing odds to safeguard her books from being destroyed and churned into pulp by a group called the Pressman who make them into the self-updating Universal Compendiums of Knowledge. Professors and students are bullied into joining the Pressman or have their minds altered if they resist. Jorit, a thief who encounters Ania in the library while trying to escape the Pressmen and steal a few books herself, flees with Ania into another era via a clock running with the titular fire opal mechanism, which permits time travel. Of course, traveling in time allows them to set things right. And if Ania and Jorit have a jewel what if there are other jewels out there. What if that's how the Pressman are updating their Compendium, they wonder?
The Fire Opal Mechanism offers some interesting thoughts on freedom of information, and about what is lost when we have knowledge without context. The Pressmen are clearly analogous to the firemen of [b:Fahrenheit 451|13079982|Fahrenheit 451|Ray Bradbury|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1383718290s/13079982.jpg|1272463], collecting books to destroy and redistributing "knowledge" in a continuously updating format that is not unlike the "parlor walls" in Bradbury's novel. The obvious risks of curated knowledge, of knowledge as information without context, and of limiting information that, au courant, is unpopular or out of favor, strikes the heart of an era of fake news, media distortion of information, and governments that limit scientific discussion or offer textbooks that rewrite history changing the reasons that led to civil war.
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Fran Wilde's second book in the Gemworld series takes place long after the events of her Hugo Award-nominated novelette, The Jewel and Her Lapidary. Set in the Far Reaches, we see a treacherous time where the nature of knowledge itself is explored. Ania, a librarian, working in a university library, is struggling against losing odds to safeguard her books from being destroyed and churned into pulp by a group called the Pressman who make them into the self-updating Universal Compendiums of Knowledge. Professors and students are bullied into joining the Pressman or have their minds altered if they resist. Jorit, a thief who encounters Ania in the library while trying to escape the Pressmen and steal a few books herself, flees with Ania into another era via a clock running with the titular fire opal mechanism, which permits time travel. Of course, traveling in time allows them to set things right. And if Ania and Jorit have a jewel what if there are other jewels out there. What if that's how the Pressman are updating their Compendium, they wonder?
The Fire Opal Mechanism offers some interesting thoughts on freedom of information, and about what is lost when we have knowledge without context. The Pressmen are clearly analogous to the firemen of [b:Fahrenheit 451|13079982|Fahrenheit 451|Ray Bradbury|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1383718290s/13079982.jpg|1272463], collecting books to destroy and redistributing "knowledge" in a continuously updating format that is not unlike the "parlor walls" in Bradbury's novel. The obvious risks of curated knowledge, of knowledge as information without context, and of limiting information that, au courant, is unpopular or out of favor, strikes the heart of an era of fake news, media distortion of information, and governments that limit scientific discussion or offer textbooks that rewrite history changing the reasons that led to civil war.
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
bentgaidin's review
5.0
'The Fire-Opal Mechanism' is a really enjoyable short story about a last librarian, a knowledge-devouring organization, and accidental time travel, along with a cute lesbian romance to tie it all together. If you like magical gems, have thoughts about the destruction of books, or want a story about resolving the sins of the past in the present, this is very worth reading.
joreadsbooks's review
4.0
Read the eARC provided by NetGalley
This book was such a tightly-paced timey-whimey adventure. Something goes wrong in the archives of the Pressmen, and a Librarian, a Thief, and an intern go on trial for a clock breaking down and literally stealing the ink from books.
The exploration of different time periods in the Gemworld was so well-done. The time travel went flawlessly, and the main characters were just visitors in realms where they have to be careful of what they can reference and the names things are based on the time they're in. I really liked the chemistry between them and the magic system in this book is the coolest.
If you're into libraries, heists, and fixing mistakes, definitely give The Fire Opal Mechanism a read.
This book was such a tightly-paced timey-whimey adventure. Something goes wrong in the archives of the Pressmen, and a Librarian, a Thief, and an intern go on trial for a clock breaking down and literally stealing the ink from books.
The exploration of different time periods in the Gemworld was so well-done. The time travel went flawlessly, and the main characters were just visitors in realms where they have to be careful of what they can reference and the names things are based on the time they're in. I really liked the chemistry between them and the magic system in this book is the coolest.
If you're into libraries, heists, and fixing mistakes, definitely give The Fire Opal Mechanism a read.